The Navicor Group | 2017

Performance

Plans

“We will expand our offerings in such areas as data science and the empowerment of patients and caregivers” — Dave Querry

Prediction

“More targeted therapies in oncology, with companion diagnostics and prognostics, will allow payers to put more pressure on treatment decisions” — Dave Querry

With hundreds of products in development, oncology ranks among the most fertile grounds for healthcare agencies. But while some are just now grappling to position themselves for a piece of the pie, others — like The Navicor Group — are reaping rewards from their years of devotion to the space.

Business remains strong. Revenue in 2016 grew to an MM&M-estimated $22.5 million on the back of 12 new accounts, with staff size surging from 74 to 107. In 2016 Navicor also promoted Rich D'Ginto to managing director of its primary base in Westerville, Ohio, and expanded its Philadelphia location, which is expected to match the size of its Westerville headquarters by the close of this year.

Owing to confidentiality agreements, Navicor principals claim they cannot reveal its roster, but president David Querry says the firm now works for 18 clients on about 25 products, as well as three corporate accounts. Six of the assignments are global.

“Our portfolio ranges from solid tumor, hematologic malignancies, diagnostics and advocacy to care support,” says Querry. “So we play in a lot of different areas, but they all focus around oncology.” To Querry's point, the firm's URL is the.oncology.agency.

Highlights from 2016 included developing trial-awareness and disease and educational programs for emerging drug developers in the infantile fibrosarcoma market; launching three new brands with an existing AOR client; adding a portfolio of global brands in myeloma and lymphoma; and winning a breast-cancer prognostic. Unsurprisingly, 11 of Navicor's 25 portfolio products are in pre-launch.

“We like to get engaged at Phase II and early Phase III, because it allows a runway to think through and execute market-shaping activities,” Querry explains.

“That's also when we can successfully address disease education and awareness programs,” he adds, “as well as all of the launch brand-building.”

"We like to get engaged at Phase II and early Phase III, because it allows a runway to think through and execute market-shaping activities." - David Querry, president

Around 45% of Navicor's work is digital. Later in 2017 Navicor and parent inVentiv Health will roll out what the agency describes as a “major” data-science offering, comprising campaign analytics and promotional modeling. This should allow clients to predict the impact of investment by channel.

Querry stresses the value of tapping into inVentiv's resources, particularly on global assignments.

“We are able to peel people out of medical communications and PR and truly integrate them into a client team to make sure that the ideas and strategy are connected through all those different channels,” he says.

“If oncology is where you are going to make your mark, you need to have a deep clinical understanding,” he continues. “We have worked on north of 45 tumor types and we can bring a lot of that experience to their teams.”

Also key is Navicor's ability to collaborate. “We are committed to understanding the marketplace, the competitive set, the product, the historical trials, and the protocols that lead to treatment patterns as well as our clients do.”

Ultimately, Navicor has found its sweet spot in helping emerging drug developers bring their first products to market. “They have limited commercial infrastructure,” says Querry. “They value our experience and we get an equal spot at the table with them.”